News

For the 5th annual Islesboro Crossing, a 5k ocean swim that benefits LifeFlight of Maine, 2017 was a record-breaking year with 256 swimmers and paddlers helping to raise more than a quarter of a million dollars. All funds raised from the swim, which was held on August 19, will support LifeFlight’s efforts to replace the organization’s two older helicopters. The two aircraft, nicknamed Echo Mike and Charlie Mike after their tail numbers, have been transporting patients in Maine since 2005.

On Tuesday, May 9, at a little after 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Maine’s newest emergency medical helicopter flew over the bridge in Kittery and crossed into the state for the first time. The number of requests for LifeFlight’s service has been rapidly increasing over the last several years, making it clear that in order to care for everyone who needed us, LifeFlight required more aircraft. In 2015, a fixed wing airplane was added to the fleet and now, a third helicopter.

To celebrate the much-needed addition of a third helicopter to its fleet, LifeFlight invited school kids in Maine to enter a competition to win a visit from the new aircraft, "Whiskey Mike" as she's known in the aviation community, after her tail number N901WM.

With its long sea-faring history, Maine has launched—and is still launching—many fine vessels from its coastal boatyards. Last week, our state had reason to celebrate another kind of launch, that of LifeFlight’s new third helicopter. The aircraft will soon be commissioned at its “home port” at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.

Over the last several months, multiple media stories have noted the high costs and rapid increase in charges by for-profit emergency air ambulance helicopter services across the country. Most recently, the May issue of Consumer Reports highlighted the problems with for-profit air ambulance companies’ business practices in an article titled, Air Ambulances: Taking Patients for a Ride.